The Deer Lake Regional Airport recorded a 1.5 per cent increase in passenger traffic in 2013 and exceeded the previous yearly record established in 2012.

According to a prepared release from the airport, the total number of passengers recorded this past year reached 310,776, up by 4,705 from the previous mark. Record setting traffic in each of the last six months helped the airport recover from the downward trend experienced earlier in the year and surpass the previous numbers to reach a new all-time high.

The release said Deer Lake remains the fourth busiest airport in Atlantic Canada, behind Halifax, St. John’s and Moncton.

“We were not anticipating significant growth so we are very satisfied to eclipse last years totals and to keep trending upward,” said Todd Lee, chairman of the airport’s board of directors. “Given the addition of recent new services and increased capacity, we are optimistic that 2014 will continue to be strong and we will again have another successful year.”

Airport CEO Jamie Schwartz acknowledged the support of the air carriers in reaching the new milestone. The airport provides regular or seasonal domestic and charter passenger services with several airlines including Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Canadian North, Provincial Airlines, Sunwing and WestJet.